Improvement in wagon-tramways



"W. BRADFORD; Wagon-Tramway.

No. 221,025. Patented Oct. 28, 1879.

- Mejia],

N. PETERS, PHGTO L\THOGRAFHER,-WASHINGTON. D

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BRADFORD, OFSPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF on 111s RIGHT TO HENRY W. RAKKER, 0F SAME PLACE.

AIM PROVEMENT- IN WAGON-TRAMWAYS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 221,025, dated October 28, 1879; application filed August 19, 1879.

v To all whom it may concern:

Similar letters of reference indicate corre spondin g parts in the above figures.

This invention relates to wagon-tramways for country and other roads; and it has for its object the construction of a cheap and durable track, by which the transportation of heavy loads is facilitated.

It consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim. I

The track of my'improved tramway consists of flat iron strips or rails A A, secured on stringers B, supported upon ties (J. The roadbed in which the ties and stringers are laid may be paved, or it maybe constructed of planks, gravel, or any other suitable material.

D D represent wooden strips or rails, secured upon the stringers B, outside the rails A. The upper corners, cc, of the strips D are beveled, as shown; but their tops are flat and the sides straight or vertical.

From the simplicity of my invention it will be seen that it may be constructed at a very small expense. The track A is smooth and durable, and the strips D form guides for the wheels of wagons passing over the track. Owing to the beveled upper corners of the strips D, wagons may be easily run off or upon the track at any point.

' In practice I propose to construct double tracks, for the accommodation of wagons passing in opposite directions.

I am aware that iron rails formed with beveled guides are not new, and such I do not claim; but by forming or constructing the guide-strips D of wood I not only make an equally durable and much cheaper track, but one which wagons may be easily run off or up on at any point, because the wheels will, so to speak, catch upon the beveled wooden rails, and thus be easily carried over, while, when solid metallic rails are used, the wheels do not readily catch and climb over the rib, but

- glance and slide along the rail, to the detriment of the running-gear, besides making the draft much heavier.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- As an improvement in tramway-tracks, the combination, with the fiat iron strips or rails A, of the wooden strips D, having beveled up per corners, and secured outside the rails A upon suitable stringers and ties, as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIAM BRADFORD. Witnesses:

GARRETT ELKIN, J. O. MELTON. 

